Mexican coppers have been told to hand over their mobile phones along with their assault rifles and hand grenades.

The legislature in Nuevo Leon state unanimously approved a bill banning city and state police from carrying personal mobile phones while on duty. This is apparently to stop corrupt cops communicating with drug gangs just before they are busted.

Recently a cop in Monterrey pulled a gun on masked federal agents during a Mexican standoff. Federal forces raided police stations in 18 towns in Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, and detained 78 officers suspected of working with drug smugglers.

Apparently there is no word about how the ban is supposed to be enforced. Officers in Monterrey complained that they are finding themselves unable to do their jobs. Which I guess is working for the drugs dealers most of the time.

Apparently officers who have taken payoffs from Mexico's brutal drug gangs often have no choice: They either have to turn a blind eye to trafficking or be killed.